Remembering Mike Cervi
The western sky dimmed a little last week as we said goodbye to a true legend of the rodeo world. Mike Cervi, ProRodeo Hall of Famer and 2022 Legend of ProRodeo, crossed over to his final arena on Wednesday, March 19, at the age of 88, leaving behind a legacy as vast as the Colorado plains he called home.
Mike’s remarkable journey began in the 1950s on a ranch near Sterling, Colorado. What started as the work of a young foreman blossomed into one of the most influential careers in rodeo history. Those who knew Mike will tell you he didn’t believe in luck – not the kind you need for shooting dice, anyway. He believed in intention, purpose, and calculated risks that often paid off in ways that transformed the sport we love.
By 1964, Mike’s business acumen was already legendary. His purchase of cattle from Oregon was reported as the largest livestock sale in Colorado history at that time. But it was his 1974 acquisition of the Billy Minick Rodeo Company – renamed Cervi Championship Rodeo – that cemented his place as a rodeo visionary.
As anyone who’s ever been behind the chutes at RodeoHouston, Denver’s National Western Stock Show, or the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo can attest, Mike’s influence stretched far beyond simply providing stock. He shaped how modern rodeos are produced, earning PRCA Stock Contractor of the Year honors in both 1983 and 2001.
The bloodlines of champions run deep at the Cervi Ranch. Descent, Mike’s legendary horse from the 1960s, earned Bucking Horse of the Year honors six times and found a place in the ProRodeo Hall of Fame. More recently, Womanizer carried on the tradition of excellence, earning the 2020 PRCA Saddle Bronc Horse of the Year award.
For 21 years, Mike served on the PRCA Board of Directors, helping guide the organization through decades of growth and change. His dedication to the sport earned him the Ben Johnson Memorial Award in 2015 and culminated in his 2022 recognition as the 17th Legend of ProRodeo.
Just days before his passing, on March 17, 2024, Mike received one final honor – induction into the inaugural class of the Rodeo Houston Hall of Fame. It was a fitting tribute to a man who had helped build that event into a cornerstone of the rodeo world over more than half a century.
Mike’s sons, Binion and Chase, took the reins of Cervi Championship Rodeo more than two decades ago. Binion now serves as Executive Director, while Chase – a two-time NFR Pickup Man of the Year – ensures the health and safety of the stock that carries on their father’s legacy.
“Mike loved the Western world and did it his way on his own,” Binion shared in a text that perfectly captures his father’s independent spirit.
Life wasn’t always easy for the Cervi family. In 2001, Mike faced the devastating loss of his eldest son, Mike Jr., who was married to World Champion Barrel Racer Sherry Cervi. But through it all, Mike maintained his characteristic determination and faith.
When asked about his greatest accomplishments, Mike wouldn’t point to his many accolades or business successes. Instead, he would speak of his sons and their families, beaming with pride that shone from deep within. The cattle industry may have been his passion, but rodeo and family were his heart and soul.
In his final moments, Mike was surrounded by his beloved sons, leaving this world as purposefully as he lived in it. While our community feels the vast emptiness of his absence – at the ranch, the feedlot, the back of the chutes, and countless other places – we find comfort in knowing he’s exactly where he prayed to be.
Mike is survived by his sons, Binion Cervi (wife Hannah) and Chase Cervi (wife Carley); his sister, Carla Cervi, and his cherished granddaughters, Reagan (6), Reese (3), and Clay (3 months).
As we ride on without one of our greatest champions, we carry the torch Mike lit so brightly for so long. His legacy lives not just in record books and hall of fame plaques, but in the very spirit of rodeo itself – in the risks taken, the dreams pursued, and the unwavering dedication to a way of life that defines us all.
In the arena of life, Mike Cervi competed with heart, determination, and unmatched skill. Now, as the final buzzer sounds, we tip our hats to a true legend who forever changed the landscape of the sport we love.
Jack’s legacy extends past championships. His 1979 induction in the inaugural ProRodeo Hall of Fame class speaks to his impact. The National Cowboy Museum welcomed him in 1997, while the California Rodeo Hall of Fame and San Jose Sports Hall of Fame proudly claim him as their own. In 2024, Cal Poly Rodeo honored him in their Hall of Fame, recognizing that the young man in green and gold had become a Western heritage icon.
Many knew Jack as the heart of Roddy Ranch south of Antioch. With Donna, his beloved wife, they created more than a home – they built community. Their legendary barbecues welcomed friends and strangers alike. The path wasn’t always smooth. Jack wrestled with local government for his Roddy Ranch development vision. When challenges came – whether bureaucratic hurdles or environmental threats – Jack faced them with arena-tested determination. His greatest victory may have been ensuring their 1,885-acre property would benefit future generations. By selling to the East Bay Regional Park District, they created a lasting legacy as Deer Valley Regional Park – preserving both nature and the Roddy name.
Jack lived the cowboy code daily. When thrown from horses or facing setbacks, he did what cowboys do – got back up and continued forward. His generosity was legendary. The $400,000 raised through Roddy Ranch events helped countless community causes. His work with the Antioch Rotary Club and Sister City programs showed a man who valued community as much as personal achievement.
In 2020, Jack and Donna moved to Stephenville, Texas. Jack made this move with characteristic thoughtfulness, ensuring Donna would have good friends nearby when his time came. As we share stories of the giant who walked among us, we’re reminded that legends live on. Jack’s wisdom still guides young bulldoggers. His business sense still shapes rodeo. When the Roddy homestead becomes a museum, visitors will see the buckles and trophies. But we – his rodeo family – will remember the man behind them. The friend. The mentor. The visionary. The cowboy. Rest easy, Jack. Heaven’s arena has gained its finest competitor.
*From all of us at Ropers Sports News, we extend our sympathy to Donna and Jack’s loved ones. California has lost a rodeo hero, but his East Bay legacy lives on. Share your memories at editor@roperssportsnews.com for our next issue.*
